Some resigned themselves to fate, while others fought desperately.
Just as the Purple-robed Youth returned home, more than twenty Deity Transformation Cultivators of varying cultivation levels sat around a round stone table in a thirty-zhang-wide hall.
These Deity Transformation Cultivators all looked quite young. Some had their eyes closed in meditation, while others let their gazes wander restlessly. Yet without exception, none of them spoke in private, leaving the entire hall silent enough to hear a pin drop.
At last, after a jade door appeared on the bluestone wall and a gloomy-looking youth entered the hall and took his seat, a White-robed Youth among the group suddenly said:
"Everyone who could come is here. Time is short, so let us begin our final gathering before the Dragon Blood Trial."
"Hmph! That direct descendant branch is getting more useless by the day. Not a single one of them came this time. They must have all resigned themselves to fate and are preparing to surrender their dragon blood!"
The gloomy youth slammed his fist down on the stone table, using anger to conceal his fear.
"There is indeed something strange about the direct descendant branch. Nothing like this has ever happened in previous Dragon Blood Trials. Perhaps there is some variable we do not know about."
A valiant-looking woman stroked her chin and said suspiciously.
"What variable could there be? I say they have grown too accustomed to luxury and comfort and long lost the domineering spirit of our Long Family ancestors, who looked down upon the world!"
The conflict between the direct line and collateral branches was common to every great family, and someone immediately derided them.
"Enough. What use is there in complaining here? Let us not waste time and quickly discuss how to deal with this!"
A cold-faced Long